Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, emerged from an afternoon of
face-to-face talks with his chairman Nicola Cortese on Tuesday, having been
granted further time to turn the club’s season around.

Cortese had been considering his options following Southampton's 2-0 loss against West Bromwich Albion on Monday but, after discussions on Tuesday afternoon, it was resolved that Adkins would remain manager and lead the club against Swansea City on Saturday.

Monday’s 2-0 loss was Southampton’s eighth defeat in 10 Premier League games so far this season and the club are rooted to the bottom of the table.

There was a feeling on Tuesday morning among some staff and even players that a change could be imminent. Adkins himself was also understood to have become uncertain about his future but he met Cortese and emerged with his job intact.

Although the position is clearly delicate, the plan is for Adkins to be in charge for Saturday’s match.

Adkins has acknowledged that he is favourite to be the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season, but he took training at the club’s Marchwood training base on Tuesday morning and is continuing preparations for the Swansea game.

His position will remain under threat if he cannot improve results, although Cortese would not want to lose a manager without having identified a suitable replacement.

Adkins can certainly still expect the strong support on Saurday from the Southampton fans, who chanted his name throughout much of the match against West Brom. Southampton were near the bottom of League One when Adkins replaced Alan Pardew just over two years ago but he has since overseen successive promotions in returning the club to the Premier League two years’ ahead of the club owners’ initial target.

That, allied to Adkins relentless optimism, has led to a feeling locally that he has earned the opportunity to establish Southampton in the Premier League.

Cortese, though, is ambitious for Southampton to eventually compete in the top half of the Premier League and will be well aware that the club’s position, with more than a quarter of the season having already elapsed, is already becoming perilous.

Adkins is certain that he can reverse the club’s fortunes and can point to the fact that Southampton have had an especially difficult set of fixtures so far this season. They have three home games and a trip to QPR, who also only have four points, in their next four matches. “We need to win and I believe we can do it,” said Adkins. “I’m very proud and privileged to be the Southampton manager. I’ll stand out and lead from the front as I’ve always done.

“I’m very positive. I know I’m a better manager today than when I joined Southampton. I know I’ve improved a lot.

“But someone is always going to be the favourite [to be sacked], and if you’re bottom of the league, well, you should be the favourite. But what a great challenge we face. We’ve played eight of the top 10. I’m looking forward to the fixtures we’ve got coming up.”